Retractable, low-profile storm shield systems and methods

Abstract

A self-contained system for protecting building penetrations is disclosed. The system can include a housing containing a take-up roll and a screen made from a flexible, strong fabric-like material suitable for resisting high winds, driving rain, and wind-driven missiles. The system can further comprise a deflector or roller to maintain the angle of deployment of the screen. The system can further include a weight bar attached to the end of the screen to assist in deploying the screen. The system can further comprise a dual pulley system to assist in deploying the screen and to hold the screen in the deployed position. The system can include wipers to clean the screen as it is retracted into the enclosure. The system can further comprise an integrated or separate light control, or “black-out” screen. The system enclosures can comprise various hinged covers to facilitate service, repair, and storage.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for protecting a penetration of a building comprising:
 a first enclosure comprising:
 a screen disposed proximate an outside of a building penetration and comprising a first end, a second end, a first loop disposed on a first side, and a second loop disposed on a second side; 
 a first weight bar coupled to the second end of the screen; and 
 a first take-up roll, attached to the first end of the screen about which a non-deployed portion of the screen is wound; 
 
 first and second side members each comprising a channel and a rigidly fixed, tapered hem rod disposed in the channel, the hem rods sized and shaped to fit inside and locate the first and second loops as the screen deploys; 
 each of the first and second side members further having a loop opener comprising one of a projection or roller disposed in the channel proximate a tapered end portion of each hem rod and configured to open the first and second loop of the screen by pushing an edge of the screen; and 
 a first cable drive system coupled to the second end of the screen for providing tension to the screen as it deploys. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first weight bar fully retracts into the enclosure when the screen is in a fully retracted position. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second enclosure comprising:
 a black-out screen disposed proximate the inside of a building penetration and comprising a first end, a second end, a first loop disposed on a first side, and a second loop disposed on a second side; 
 a second weight bar coupled to the second end of the black-out screen; and 
 a second take-up roll, attached to the first end of the black-out screen about which a non-deployed portion of the black-out screen is wound; and 
 
 third and fourth side members each comprising a channel and a hem rod disposed in the channel, the hem rods sized and shaped to fit inside the first and second loops as the black-out screen deploys. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , further comprising, a second cable drive system coupled to the second end of the black-out screen for providing tension to the black-out screen as it deploys. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the second weight bar fully retracts into the enclosure when the screen is in the fully retracted position. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first weight bar further comprises a seal disposed on one or more surfaces of the first weight bar for sealing the weight bar against the building penetration. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , the first enclosure further comprising:
 a guide disposed proximate to, and substantially parallel with, the first take-up roll and comprising a rounded profile for guiding the screen as it is moved between a first, retracted position and the second, deployed position. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the guide comprises one or more rollers. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more wipers disposed proximate the screen for removing debris from the screen as it is moved between a first, retracted position and the second, deployed position. 
     
     
       10. A system for protecting a penetration of a building comprising:
 an enclosure comprising:
 a screen for protecting a building penetration and comprising a first end, a second end, a first loop disposed on a first side, and a second loop disposed on a second side; 
 a weight bar coupled to the second end of the screen; and 
 a take-up roll, attached to the first end of the screen about which a non-deployed portion of the screen is wound; 
 
 two side members each comprising a channel and a tapered hem rod disposed in the channel, the hem rods sized and shaped to fit inside the first and second loops as the screen deploys; 
 each of the first and second side members further having a loop opener comprising one of a projection or roller disposed in the channel proximate a tapered end portion of each hem rod and configured to open the first and second loop of the screen by pushing an edge of the screen; and 
 a cable drive system coupled to the second end of the screen to provide tension to the second end of the screen as it deploys, the cable drive system comprising:
 a tensioner comprising a first, relaxed position, a second, tensioned position, a first end, and a second end; 
 an upper drive pulley system coupled to the first end of the tensioner; and 
 a lower drive pulley system coupled to the second end of the tensioner; 
 
 wherein the tensioner provides minimum downward tension when the screen is retracted and maximum downward tension when the screen is deployed. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the lower drive pulley system and the upper drive pulley system comprise different gear ratios to move the tensioner from the first position to the second position as the screen is deployed. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the gear ratio of the lower pulley system is approximately between two and five times the gear ratio of the upper pulley system. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the screen further comprises a light control layer. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a guide that is substantially the same width as, and parallel to, the take-up roll; 
 wherein the screen is deployed over the guide to maintain substantially constant deployment and retraction angles. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the enclosure comprises:
 a mount; and 
 a cover hingedly coupled to the mount to enable access to internal components. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or both of the side members further comprise a compartment for housing one or more system components, spare parts, or both. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the one or both of the side members further comprise a moveable cover to provide access to the compartment. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the loops are welded, sewn, or both into the sides of the screen. 
     
     
       19. A system for protecting a penetration of a building comprising:
 an enclosure comprising:
 a screen for protecting a building penetration and comprising a first end, a second end, a first loop disposed on a first side, and a second loop disposed on a second side; 
 a weight bar coupled to the second end of the screen; 
 a take-up roll, attached to the first end of the screen about which a non-deployed portion of the screen is wound; and 
 two upper side members each comprising a channel; 
 two middle side members each comprising a channel; and 
 two lower side members each comprising a channel and a tapered hem rod, the hem rods sized and shaped to fit inside the first and second loops as the screen deploys; 
 
 each of the first and second side members further having a loop opener comprising one of a projection or roller disposed in the channel proximate a tapered end portion of each hem rod and configured to open the first and second loop of the screen by pushing an edge of the screen. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a cable drive system coupled to the second end of the screen for providing tension to the screen as it deploys. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 20 , the cable drive system further comprising:
 an upper cable drive system comprising one or more pulleys and one or more cables disposed in one or both of the two upper side members; and 
 a lower cable drive system comprising one or more pulleys and one or more cables disposed in one or both of the two lower side members. 
 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 20 , wherein the upper cable drive system and the lower cable drive system are elastically coupled with a tensioner. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking system configured to secure the screen in a deployed position.